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Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is reaching out to more than 300,000 Iowans who are eligible to vote but are not registered. Timed to coincide with National Voter Registration Day, Pate’s office is mailing postcards to unregistered voters, encouraging them to utilize Iowa’s online voter registration system in advance of the November 2018 elections.

“The best way to make your voice heard is by registering to vote and participating in elections. I want every eligible Iowan to be a voter,” Secretary Pate said. “More than 90 percent of eligible Iowans are registered to vote. I’d like us to reach 100 percent.”

September is National Voter Registration Month and Tuesday, September 25 is National Voter Registration Day. Every eligible Iowan that possesses an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator’s ID but is not registered to vote can expect to receive the postcard within the next two weeks. These Iowans were identified by matching the state voter registration file with the Iowa Department of Transportation’s database.

“Iowa is one of the top six states in the nation for voter registration, but there is no reason not to strive to be number one,” Secretary Pate added. “This mailing will bring us closer to that goal.”

The mailing is being done in partnership with the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a multi-state compact aimed at improving voter rolls and increasing registration. Earlier this year, Iowa became the 25th state to join ERIC. A grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts covers the cost of printing and mailing the postcards.